The Liberty Bank Foundation has awarded $5,000 to Opportunity Knocks, to support its social and emotional health programming, specifically its home-based parenting education and skill development.
Opportunity Knocks is a community collaborative of parents, health and education providers and community agencies that addresses childhood obesity, lack of routine dental care, and poor social and emotional health — behaviors that could lead to preschool expulsion or impact a child’s future school performance and lifetime achievement. The vision of Opportunity Knocks is that children enter kindergarten physically and emotionally healthy and ready to succeed.
As an ongoing prevention program started in 2004, preschool teachers report remarkable positive changes in the behavior of the children whose parents were able to access the home-based services offered through Opportunity Knocks, provided by parent educators. Teachers cite improved parenting skills and a greater sense of relief and confidence that parents feel with the intense support from the program.
The Liberty Bank Foundation award will help parents continue to access these important in-home services at a stage when prevention is possible. The Opportunity Knocks in-home parenting education services are available to families before issues escalate to the level of Department of Child and Family Services involvement. Parent educators are an essential resource to early childhood education programs since they support classroom management and provide services to families beyond the classroom.
Opportunity Knocks is a community collaborative of parents, health and education providers and community agencies that addresses childhood obesity, lack of routine dental care, and poor social and emotional health — behaviors that could lead to preschool expulsion or impact a child’s future school performance and lifetime achievement. The vision of Opportunity Knocks is that children enter kindergarten physically and emotionally healthy and ready to succeed.
As an ongoing prevention program started in 2004, preschool teachers report remarkable positive changes in the behavior of the children whose parents were able to access the home-based services offered through Opportunity Knocks, provided by parent educators. Teachers cite improved parenting skills and a greater sense of relief and confidence that parents feel with the intense support from the program.
The Liberty Bank Foundation award will help parents continue to access these important in-home services at a stage when prevention is possible. The Opportunity Knocks in-home parenting education services are available to families before issues escalate to the level of Department of Child and Family Services involvement. Parent educators are an essential resource to early childhood education programs since they support classroom management and provide services to families beyond the classroom.
(Photo by John Giammatteo)
(Left to right): Cyndi Perry, parent educator; two-year-old Max Veselas, held by his grandmother, Pam Austin, who participates in the program; Willard McRae, Liberty Bank Foundation board member; Betty Sugarman-Weintraub, senior program officer, Liberty Bank Foundation; Cristina Cardona, parent educator; Monica Belyea, program planner, Opportunity Knocks
CANCER CENTER TO HOST PRESENTATION
ON COLON HEALTH
The Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center will host an information session on colon health; and prevention and early detection of colon cancer on Thursday, March 25, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the atrium of the Cancer Center at 536 Saybrook Road in Middletown. The event is free and open to the public.
The event will feature a panel of experts, including gastroenterologist, Mario Ricci, M.D.; radiation oncologist, Anwar Khan, M.D.; surgeon, Jonathan Blancaflor, M.D.; medical oncologist, Michael Farrell, M.D.; Cancer Center Medical Director, Andrea Malon, M.D.; and advanced practice registered nurse, Wendy Peterson, from the Middlesex Hospital Behavioral Health Department. The panelists will discuss colon cancer prevention, as well as treatment options and supportive services. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.
There will also be exhibits featuring information on colorectal screening and colonoscopies, endoscopies, integrative medicine, clinical trials, nutrition, genetics, treatment, rehabilitation, American Cancer Society programs, and cancer support groups at Middlesex Hospital.
Light refreshments will be served. To register for the event, call (860) 358-2088.
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